EDITORIAL Lieberman stands squarely in middle

Related Lieberman special section TOWN TALK: Would you vote for Joe?We wish Joe Lieberman were paying attention to Connecticut rather than to getting votes in Iowa or New Hampshire for his partys presidential nomination.

A New Haven Register Editorial

Published
12:00 am EDT, Thursday, August 14, 2003

But, the campaign of the states junior senator has only reinforced our belief that the country needs more politicians like him. Lieberman remains unafraid to sometimes agree with his opponents and bridge the deepening partisan gap that makes governing in Washington so difficult.

That tendency to be both reasonable and moderate has left some fuming that hes no Democrat at all. But his voting record thoroughly refutes that silly suggestion. And during his run for vice president, he dropped his doubts about affirmative action and backtracked on privatizing part of Social Security.

Heres what Lieberman had to say earlier this month about the Republican incumbent in the White House: "George W. Bushs failed leadership has left our country dangerously unprepared to defend against and defeat the threat of terror. And it has clearly driven our economy into a ditch."

But Lieberman agrees with Bush that liberating Iraq was necessary and just. And he doesnt shy from telling organized labor, part of his partys core, that he supports free trade agreements and the concept of school vouchers. So does Bush.

Lieberman and Bush are on the same page on support for faith-based initiatives and a prescription drug program.

A Democrat who supports some tax cuts and believes in a strong national defense is a rarity this year. Most of the Democratic contenders for president have moved to the left to court their partys true believers.

Lieberman, instead, stands squarely in the middle, a rapidly shrinking territory in American politics. It is a good place for a president to stand. But for Lieberman, it meant boos at the AFL-CIO convention in Chicago. That contradiction may decide his presidential ambitions.